Introduction
If you’re already working as an engineer and looking to take a step up to a more senior leadership role, an MSc in Engineering Management can give you the specialist knowledge and skills you need to significantly boost your career opportunities and earnings.
This guide will help you understand what’s involved in an online MSc Engineering Management and the opportunities it can open up for you in your engineering career.
What Is Engineering Management?
Engineering management is basically managing teams of engineers and overseeing both the technical and business aspects of engineering.
An engineering manager acts as the go-to person between technical engineering teams and business teams. It’s their job to leverage their combined technical and leadership expertise in engineering to help make decisions that align with both an organisation’s technical requirements and business goals.
Effective engineering management is vital to an organisation as it can impact their financial outcomes and large-scale projects, as well as clients and communities.
Why Study an Engineering Management Master’s Degree?
An MSc in Engineering Management is a specialised degree for engineers wanting to take on senior leadership roles within the field. It equips you with advanced knowledge and skills specific to business management to help you build upon your existing technical expertise and experience.
Having combined technical expertise and business management skills in engineering will enable you to apply for senior leadership roles and attract both more employers and a better salary within the industry.
Some of the advanced skills and knowledge you can gain with an MSc in Engineering Management include:
- Leadership skills
- Problem-solving
- Critical and analytical thinking
- Risk management
- Supply chain management
- Finance and budgeting
- Data-handling
- Automation and robotics
- Sustainability
MSc Engineering Management Course Structure
Online Engineering Management MSc courses are usually divided into compulsory modules, which provide you with foundational knowledge; and optional modules, which let you gain specialist knowledge and skills in a particular area of interest.
Some examples of core modules include:
- Business strategy
- Business planning
- Design, innovation and creative engineering
- Renewable energy management
- Supply chain management
- Quality assurance management
Some examples of optional modules include:
- Emerging technologies
- Corporate social responsibility
- Automation and robotics
- Sustainability
After you’ve completed the MSc’s core and optional modules, you’ll complete a final project/dissertation that will give you the opportunity to demonstrate how well you can apply your learnings from the course to real-world issues in the field.
Engineering Management Careers
With an MSc in Engineering Management, you’ll be qualified to apply for senior leadership positions in engineering management within your current organisation or elsewhere.
By the end of the course, you would have gained the business acumen and technical expertise you need to thrive as a leader in the field. You’ll also have the competitive edge you need to be a highly sought-after engineering professional in the global job market.
Some of the career opportunities open to you with an MSc Engineering Management include:
- Operations management
- Logistics and supply chain management
- Project management
- Engineering research and development
Learning Format
Online MSc Engineering Management courses provide you with the flexibility to study on your own terms – when and where it suits you.
Most online MSc Engineering Management courses offer asynchronous course content, so there’s no need to attend live lectures or tutorials – you can simply watch these online in your own time. However, other courses may have live tutorials and/or lectures that you may need to attend, but you can generally still attend these remotely.
Remote/Online Learning
With an online MSc Engineering Management, you’ll be able to carry on uninterrupted with your current engineering role while you study, so you won’t have to put your job or full-time income on-hold.
Additionally, you’ll have online access to resources and support to help you throughout the course – this includes online access to your tutors, academics in the field, and your global student cohort made up of like-minded industry professionals.
With an online MSc Engineering Management, you can also set your own study schedule to align alongside your full-time job and other commitments – discover tips on how to effectively balance work, life and study.
How Much Can You Earn With Engineering Manager Qualifications?
Because an MSc in Engineering Management qualifies you to apply for senior leadership roles, you’ll have the opportunity to significantly boost your earning potential once you graduate from the course.
A qualified engineering manager’s salary can be upwards of £100,000 per year, depending on your experience.
MSc Engineering Management Accreditation
There are a number of Engineering Management master’s degrees that have additional accreditation from professional bodies. When a university offers an MSc with accreditation, it means that they have worked with the professional body to ensure their curriculum and learning experience meets industry benchmarks and best practices.
These accreditations often mean that graduates automatically become eligible for membership if they choose, and enable them to use the initials of their certified title after their name.
The most common are:
- The Chartered Institute of Management (CMI)
- Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
- The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
Course Start Dates
Start dates for online MSc Engineering Management courses are usually in January and September each year, although some UK universities offer monthly start dates – check your preferred course page for more detailed information.
Entry Requirements
Qualifications Needed
To apply for an MSc in Engineering Management, you’ll usually need:
- A 2:2 (or above) UK Honours degree or equivalent internationally-recognised qualification in an engineering, science or technology subject
- An IELTS score of 6.5 or above, if English isn’t your native language
If you don’t already have a degree in engineering, some universities may consider your work experience and vocational/technical qualifications. It’s a good idea to check with the university whether you meet the entry requirements based on your individual work experience and/or qualifications.
Places in online MSc Engineering Management courses can be highly-competitive, so it’s a good idea to complete and submit your course application as early as possible.
Check your preferred course pages for their specific course application deadlines. It’s recommended that you prepare your course application at least 3 months before the deadline to give you adequate time to prepare the required documents and organise funding for your course.
The documents you’ll need to apply for an online MSc Engineering Management usually include:
- An online application form
- CV
- Personal statement
- Previous certificates and transcripts
Age and Experience
Online MSc Engineering Management courses are in high demand among mature age students who are already working in engineering and looking to build upon their existing knowledge and skills.
Studying an online MSc Engineering Management as a mature age student gives you the opportunity to:
- Gain a promotion and better salary within your current organisation, or pursue senior engineering management roles with other organisations
Leverage your existing experience and expertise in engineering to achieve success in your studies - Specialise in an area of engineering you’re particularly interested in
Expand your engineering industry knowledge through the diverse perspectives and insights of your global student cohort - Harness your professional skills gained in the workplace to help you successfully manage your studies alongside your work and other commitments
Duration and Time Commitments
MSc Engineering Management courses are made up of 180 Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS) points, or ‘credits’, equivalent to around 1,800 total hours of study.
Because of their work commitments, mature age students often choose to study online MSc Engineering Management courses part-time, so they can break down their study hours per week as it best suits them. You can use our part-time study calculator to find out how long it would take to finish your MSc based on your study hours per week.
Effective time management is especially important when you’re studying an online MSc Engineering Management alongside your work and other commitments. That’s why it’s a good tip to set a study schedule before your course start date so that you’re clear on your specific study hours per week before you start.
Costs Involved
General Costs
Costs involved in studying an online MSc Engineering Management include:
Tuition fees – These can range anywhere from £8,000 to £25,000, depending on the university offering the course. Check your chosen course page for details on tuition fees.
Other costs – If your chosen MSc requires you to complete exams, you may also need to pay exam fees (plus travel-related costs if you have to travel to an exam centre).
Funding Options
If you’re a UK resident looking to apply for an MSc Engineering Management, you may be eligible for a Master’s Loan – a government-funded loan that will cover the cost of your MSc. With this loan, you’ll only need to make repayments once you earn over a set amount.
You can find out more about student finance options.
Scholarships and Grants
There are many universities in the UK offering scholarships and grants, so it’s a good tip to check first with your chosen university if they offer these before you decide on how you’ll fund your MSc studies.
You can also check The Scholarship Hub for details on UK scholarships, grants and bursaries that may be available.
If you’re a registered subscriber to our UK Study Online website and meet the eligibility criteria, you’ll go into the draw to win a scholarship that will go towards your MSc tuition fees.
